CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

CULLOMPTON captain Brendon Parr is playing down talk of a league and cup double – even though his team are halfway there.

Cullompton, who are top of the table in the Tolchards DCL B Division, retained the Ivor Dewdney Corinthian Cup by beating Teignmouth & Shaldon by eight wickets in a low-key final.

A 53 win over Stoke Gabriel in the league 24 hours earlier kept Cullompton two points clear of Barton at the top of the B Division table.

As Barton pay a visit to Cullompton this Saturday, perhaps it’s no surprise Parr is a little guarded in his comments.

“There are four big weekends of cricket left for us and I am not looking too far ahead,” said Parr.

“We just need to keep focusing on our next game – and I am looking forward to welcoming Barton to our place this Saturday.”

Cullompton eased past Stoke Gabriel by seven wickets in the lunchtime semi in what was a repeat of last year’s final at Cornwood.

Jack Tolley top scored on 43 for Stoke Gabriel, and Justin Pringle made 35 before dobbing a return catch back to Deshan Dias, in a 20-over total of 129 for seven. Dias conjured up a T20 rarity – a maiden – during his four-over allocation.

Seamer Paul Rendall (4-25) was comfortably Cullompton’s most successful bowler.

Cullompton’s run chase was a perfunctory affair led by third-man in Akshay Bharadwaj, who bludgeoned 93 not out from 52 balls faced to clinch a spot in the final with more than four overs to spare.

Bharadwaj launched six sixes – mostly back over the bowler’s heads – and clattered eight fours.

Teignmouth & Shaldon, who overcame Uplyme & Lyme Regis in the morning semi by six wickets, were always outsiders to lift the cup after Cullompton bowled them out for 112.

Dangerman Ruben Minnaar was in and out for an eight-ball 14 and big hitter Josh Couch got to 12 then got out.

Todd Ballman (24) and Carl Woolnough (15) made some progress, but that was as good as it got for T&S, who struggled against the turning ball and in particular James Vincent (2-14), Dinesh Raheja (3-15), Bharadwaj (2-25) and Dias (1-17).

Euan Tinley (37) and Raheja (33no) made a 55-run dent in the deficit before the former was dismissed by \ Woolnough.

Bharadwaj came and went for 13 – one more six, one more four – which left skipper Parr (16no) to and Raheja wipe off the 36 needed.

Looking back on finals day after a late night of celebrations, Parr said: “I thought in the semi and the final we bowled the opposition out of the game

“We stuck to our plans well with lines and lengths & continued to mix the bowlers up, to prevent batters getting settled.

I am spoilt as captain by the depth of our bowling, especially the variety of spinners.

“We are backed-up with an experienced batting line-up.

“I am really proud of all the lads for their efforts & contributions throughout the competition.”

Woolnough, the Teignmouth & Shaldon captain, said his disappointment at losing the final was tempered by the positives of just getting there.

“I was proud of the guys for getting to our first Corinthian Cup finals day then getting to the final,” said Woolnough.

“Another 20-30 runs would have been ideal as the pitch became tougher to bat on as the day wore on and it got a bit slower.

“Tinley, their opener, threw the bat a bit and it came off. That got them off to a good start.”

Teignmouth & Shaldon were hindered in the final by an injury to nagging seamer Bougourd, who could not bowl at his best.

Woolnough said although Bougourd’s injury was a blow, it was not to blame for losing.

“We should have put more runs on the board,” said Woolnough.